City of Edmonton + Graffiti...

The City of Edmonton chooses to “Wipe Out” graffiti. According to the city’s official website, 2008 was the first year of the Graffiti Management Program which is connected with the Litter Management Program under the Capital City Clean Up. A “Wipe Out Graffiti” brochure is available on the City of Edmonton’s official site. “Let’s Wipe Out Graffiti!” the brochure exclaims. Eradication is the solution! Graffiti is treated like a disease; if it is not removed immediately it will spread and create and environment that will breed crime. Is graffiti a harmful bacterium found on the walls of Edmonton buildings? Ideally, the City of Edmonton wishes to have a clean, graffiti free city to show possible investors and tourists. I ask, is this even possible? The brochure even admits..."Graffiti may need to be removed three to seven times in the exact same spot before the graffiti offender will give up". I have seen proof of this in the streets. Graffiti, cover up, graffiti, more cover up, and the cycle continues...This seems like a painful and expensive way to fight graffiti. Edmonton puts all graffiti under the category of vandalism. Obviously some graffiti is simply vandalism, but there can be exceptions. As a citizen of Edmonton for the last 3 years, I feel the public art in Edmonton is seriously lacking. Wouldn’t it be great to brighten up blank walls with colourful locally designed works? Wouldn’t it be interesting to designate a public space for graffiti artists to go and create dialogue with one another? Would it not only enhance pride in our city if local people we able to take part in creating bright and vibrant spaces for all enjoy? Wouldn’t it make the dull brown seasons more interesting? Edmonton is ugly for more than half of the year! I think when tourists enter the city in the spring, winter or fall they are faced with blandness. Is this why Edmonton has the reputation of being “dEdmonton”? Visually, it is dull, brown and dead!

Whyte Avenue Cement Barrier=Truth???